Giuliani graduation speech receives mixed reaction

Middlebury, Vt.  Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani delivered the commencement address Sunday at a school where his selection as graduation speaker touched off angry debate and led to the resignation of the student newspaper's editor after the paper ran a photo likening Giuliani to Adolf Hitler.

Most Middlebury College students applauded following Giuliani's speech, but a small group of students tied red pieces of cloth around their mouths while he spoke.

Cynthia Hernandez, who organized the protest, said although Giuliani's actions following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were admirable, "the eight years he spent terrorizing the poor, the homeless, the artistic community, the queer community, the minority communities in New York City should not be forgotten."

Giuliani, who received an honorary degree from the college Sunday, did not address the controversy in his remarks, but touched on the 9-11 attacks.